Answering some oft-asked Hanukkah questions

There is more than one type of menorah: Shown here, the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, and a seven-branch menorah used in the Israeli emblem.(My Jewish Learning via JTA) – Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Hanukkah. Or is it Chanukah?

Is there a correct way to spell Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is a Hebrew word, not an English one, and there is no standard transliteration. My Jewish Learning uses “Hanukkah,” but “Chanukah,” “Chanukka” and “Hanukka” are also common spellings.

Why does Hanukkahlast eight days?

There are two explanations for the eight-day length. One is that Hanukkah commemorates not just the Maccabees’ victory and rededication of the Temple, but the miracle of the oil: one day’s supply for the Temple lamp lasted eight days.

Another explanation is that the first Hanukkah celebration was actually a delayed Sukkot celebration, and Sukkot – which, like Passover, is a pilgrimage festival – traditionally lasts eight days.

What is Hanukkah about?

Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees’ rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. According to rabbinic tradition, the holiday also commemorates the miracle of the oil noted above.

Some people see Hanukkah as a celebration of religious freedom, whereas others see it as a triumph of tradition over assimilation. For many people, it is simply an opportunity for festivity during the darkest time of the year, the winter solstice.

Why does Hanukkah fall on a differentdate each year?

Hanukkah always falls on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually is sometime in December. Because the Jewish calendar is a combination of solar and lunar, the date on the Gregorian calendar fluctuates each year.

Is the candelabra lit on Hanukkah calleda menorah or a hanukkiah?

Menorah simply means lamp and can refer to other candelabras such as the seven-branch menorah in the Emblem of Israel and used in the Temple in Jerusalem. A hanukkiah is a candelabra specifically for use on Hanukkah. However, many people call it a menorah or Hanukkah menorah — you usually can tell from context when a person is referring to a Hanukkah candelabra and not another kind of lamp.

Why do Jews play dreidel on Hanukkah? There are different explanations for this tradition, but historians believe the dreidel is an adaptation of another top-spinning game that Europeans played at Christmas time.

Do Jews traditionally exchange gifts onall eight nights of Hanukkah?

Actually, exchanging gifts on Hanukkah is a relatively new tradition. American Jews used to exchange gifts on Purim, but in the late 19th century there was a shift from Purim to Hanukkah. Christmas, which falls at the same time of year, became a national holiday in America at this time, and the Jewish custom of gifts on Hanukkah shifted as the Christian holiday’s consumerism grew.

When it comes to how many gifts to exchange and when, families have different traditions.

Why is the first night of Hanukkah oneday before the date listed on my calendar?

While dates on the Gregorian calendar begin at midnight, dates on the Hebrew calendar begin at sundown — that means a holiday starts hours before the corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar. This difference is particularly noticeable on Hanukkah, since celebrations tend to take place at night rather than during the day. So while your calendar may say Hanukkah starts on Dec. 13, it actually begins this year on the preceding evening, Dec. 12. The last candle will be lit this year on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Jewish law does not require Jews to observe Hanukkah anywhere outside the home. However, some special liturgy and readings are added to the daily and Shabbat prayer services that take place during Hanukkah.

I tried to find the story of the Maccabeesin the Bible, but couldn’t. Where is it?

The Book of Maccabees, in which the Hanukkah story is detailed, was not included in the Hebrew Bible and instead is in a category of texts called Apocrypha. For centuries, some Jews used to read the story from an Aramaic-language scroll called The Scroll of Antiochus, which detailed the Maccabees’ victories and added numerous legends.

Why do Jews eat greasy food on Hanukkah?

It is traditional to eat fried foods, such as latkes and jelly doughnuts (called sufganiyot in Hebrew) as a way of commemorating the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. If you’re worried about the health (or waistline) implications, consider celebrating the oil by dipping bread into a variety of gourmet olive oils.

Another traditional Hanukkah food, cheese, unfortunately isn’t much better for those concerned about fat. The cheese tradition is in honor of Judith, a woman who helped the Maccabee effort by feeding salty cheese and wine to one of Antiochus’ generals – and then beheading him.

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